Ranunculus plant named &#39;ABOGMA&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Ranunculus  cultivar named ‘ABOGMA’ is disclosed, characterized by a distinctive color combination in the corolla of green and lavender. The flower has a rounded shape when fully open, and the petals are deeply ruffled. This variety has an exceptionally long vase life as a cut flower. The new variety is a  Ranunculus , normally produced as a cut flower and also potentially useful as an ornamental plant.

Latin name of the genus and species: Ranunculus asiaticus.

Variety denomination: ‘ABOGMA’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new Ranunculus cultivar is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor, Alberto Biancheri in Camporosso Mare, Italy.The cross resulting in this new variety was made during 2007.

The seed parent is the, unpatented, proprietary variety referred to asRanunculus ‘PPBsfRS159.05’. The pollen parent is the unpatented,proprietary variety referred to as Ranunculus ‘68CMT03’. The new varietywas discovered in 2010 by the inventor in a group of seedlings resultingfrom the 2007 crossing, in a research greenhouse in Camporosso Mare,Italy.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar was first performed byvegetative division of buds sprouting from the rhizome of the selectedplant. Subsequent propagation has been performed by tissue culture.First propagation took place at a research greenhouse in CamporossoMare, Italy in 2010 and has shown that the unique features of thiscultivar are stable and reproduced true to type in multiple successivegenerations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘ABOGMA’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe the unique characteristics of ‘ABOGMA’ These characteristics incombination distinguish ‘ABOGMA’ as a new and distinct Ranunculuscultivar:

-   -   1. Particular combination of color in the corolla, including        lavender and green.    -   2. Rounded shape of the flower when it is fully open.    -   3. Deeply ruffled petals.    -   4. Exceptionally long vase life.    -   5. High productivity.

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABOGMA’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of thenew cultivar ‘ABOGMA’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Flower color.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABOGMA’ are similar to plants of the pollenparent, in most horticultural characteristics, however, plants of thenew cultivar ‘ABOGMA’ differ in the following;

-   -   1. Flower shape.    -   2. Different combination of colors in the corolla.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘ABOGMA’ are comparable to the unpatentedcommercial variety Ranunculus ‘Aazur White Striped’. The two Ranunculusvarieties are similar in most horticultural characteristics; however,the new variety ‘ABOGMA’ differs in the following:

-   -   1. The new variety produces flowers with more lavender and green        in the corolla.    -   2. Flower shape of the new variety is more fully round.    -   3. Petals of the new variety are stronger than those of this        comparator.    -   4. Floral vase life of the new variety is longer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full colorflowering plants of the new variety at approximately five months old,grown in a greenhouse.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close up of plant parts. The photographs were takenusing conventional techniques and although colors may appear differentfrom actual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate aspossible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 6^(th) edition, except where generalterms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The followingobservations and measurements describe ‘ABOGMA’ plants grown in agreenhouse Camporosso Mare, Italy. The plant described has beencultivated under glass, planted in the months of September and describedin the month of February. One must always refer to these conditions ofseason and culture, when considering the present description. By reasonof different climate or culture conditions, differences may arisebetween certain characteristics of the plant and the correspondingcharacteristics of the description. It should be considered as normaland do not modify the essence of the present invention because it willpossible to identify the plant by means of the totality of thecharacteristics given in the description. The rhizome has been plantedon raised benches in a peat and pumice substrate mixture. The growingtemperature ranged from 12° C. to 25° C. during the day and from 2° C.to 8° C. during the night. General light conditions are bright, normalsunlight. Measurements and numerical values represent averages oftypical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Ranunculus asiaticus ‘ABOGMA’.-   Propagation:    -   -   Time to rooting.—15 days at approximately 10-12° C.        -   Time to produce a rooted plantlet.—20 days.        -   Root description.—Secondary roots grow from the rhizome and            are fasciculate type.-   Plant:    -   -   Growth habit.—Herbaceous perennial, robust plant, erect            vegetation.        -   Height to top flower.—55 to 65 cm.        -   Plant spread.—35 to 40 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Medium.        -   Branching characteristics.—Main floral stems grow from a            basal rosette with one lateral branches that brings a            flower.        -   Length of lateral branches.—50 to 60 cm.        -   Diameter of lateral branches.—0.7 to 0.8 cm.        -   Texture of lateral branches.—Slightly tomentose.        -   Internode length.—Internodes are extremely close together,            forming a basal rosette.        -   Strength of lateral branches.—Medium.        -   Color of lateral branches.—Yellow Green (RES 144A).        -   Aspect/angle of branches.—20° to 25°.        -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—Usually 2.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf.—The leaves, usually numerous, have a marked            heterophyllia, in relation to the degree of their            development and their position on the plant (base of the            plant; floral stem).        -   Leaf at the base of the plant.—Arrangement: Simple (young            leaf, YL); Biternate (mature leaf, ML). Average Length: 25            to 30 cm. Average Width: 15 to 23 cm. Overall Shape of            blade: Obovate (young leaf); Palmatipartite (mature leaf).            Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity of dissection:            Young leaves are generally not lobed; mature leaves are            generally divided in 3 parts, each one of which is further            divided in 3 or more lobes. Apex: Rounded. Base: Rounded.            Attachment: Base of the plant. Margin: Dentate. Texture of            top surface: Slightly tomentose. Texture of bottom surface:            Slightly tomentose. Appearance of top surface: Glossy.            Appearance bottom surface: Glossy. Leaf internode length:            The internodes are extremely close together, forming a basal            rosette. Color: Young foliage upper side: Green (RHS 137A).            Young foliage under side: Yellow Green (RHS 147B). Mature            foliage upper side: Green (RHS 137A). Mature foliage under            side: Yellow Green (RHS 147B). Venation: Type: Dichotomous;            plunging in to the limb at the upper surface; raised on the            limb at the lower surface. Venation color upper side: Yellow            Green (RHS 144A). Venation color under side: Yellow Green            (RHS 144A). Petiole: Petiole: Long, tubular, rigid. Length:            15 to 18 cm. Diameter: 0.4 to 0.6 cm. Pubescence: Slightly            tomentose. Color: Yellow Green (RHS 144A).        -   Leaf inserted at the nodes of the floral stems            (sl).—Arrangement: Biternate. Average Length: 18 to 20 cm.            Average Width: 10 to 15 cm. Overall Shape of blade:            Palmatipartite. Dissected leaves, describe lobes, quantity            of dissection: Generally, divided in 3 parts, each one of            which is further divided in many deeply incised lobes. Apex:            Acute. Base: Acute. Attachment. Petiolate. Margin: Dentate.            Texture of top surface: Slightly tomentose. Texture of            bottom surface: Slightly tomentose. Appearance of top            surface: Matte. Appearance bottom surface: Glossy. Leaf            internode length: 7 to 10 cm. Color: foliage upper side:            Green (RHS 137C). foliage under side: Green (RHS 138B).            Venation: Type: Longitudinal, deeply plunging in to the limb            at the upper surface and very raised on the limb at the            lower surface. Venation color upper side: Yellow Green (RHS            144A). Venation color under side: Yellow Green (RHS 144A).            Petiole: Petiole: Long, slightly flat, rigid. Length: 4 to            10 cm. Diameter: 0.7 to 1.3 cm. Pubescence: Slightly            tomentose. Color: Yellow Green (RHS 144A).-   Flower:    -   -   Bloom period.—Winter to Spring.        -   Vase life (cut flower).—15 to 20 days.        -   Persistent or self-cleaning.—Self-Cleaning.        -   Bud.—Closed bud (CB): Shape: Flattened globular. Length: 1.0            to 1.6 cm. Diameter: 1.3 to 2.0 cm. Color: Green (RHS 137B).            Slightly open bud (OB): Shape: Flattened globular. Length:            1.8 to 2.2 cm. Diameter: 2.3 to 2.4 cm. Color: Yellow Green            (RHS 144A); Yellow Green (RHS N144B) near the margin.        -   Flower size (of _(1.2)).—Diameter: 9 to 13 cm. Height: 3 to            6 cm.        -   Corolla (of _(1.2)).—Round, regular, in the form of a flat            section with slightly festooned edges.        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Imbricated, disposed on the receptacle            in very tight verticils. The size of the petals is quite            variable, according to the position in the corolla,            decreasing from the exterior toward the center. The average            size of fully developed petal is as follows: Lobe Length:            3.8 to 4.8 cm. Lobe Width: 3.0 to 3.5 cm. Quantity: Double            flower, petals are very numerous (>100). Texture: Silky,            thin, resistant. Lobe Apex: Rounded, Slightly acute. Lobe            shape: Obovate. Margin: Sinuate. Aspect: concave, reflexed            when flower is fully opened.        -   Color when opening (cf).—Upper surface: Red Purple (RHS 65D)            at the margin; Yellow Green (RHS 144A). Lower surface: Red            Purple (RHS 65D) at the margin; Yellow Green (RHS 144A).        -   Color fully opened (of ₁).—Upper surface (PU₁): Red Purple            (RHS 65A) at the margin; Red Purple (RHS 65B); Yellow Green            (RHS 144A) from the center towards the base. Lower surface            (PL₁): Red Purple (RHS 65A) at the margin; Red Purple (RHS            65B); Yellow Green (RHS 144A) from the center towards the            base.        -   Other cultural improvements or features.—In this variety,            the colors of the corolla could present a lack of Red-Purple            tones and an increase of Green tones. This is already            noticeable in the flowers that are opening and is present in            those that are wide open (OF_(2;) PU_(2.) PL₂). This            variation of color, partially typical of this variety, is            accentuated in particular growing conditions, in relation to            light exposure, to the temperature and to the different            composition of fertilizers used by the various farms.        -   Calyx to sepals (s).—Quantity per flower: 9 to 12. Shape:            Concave, moderately incurved. Length: 1.9 to 2.6 cm. Width:            0.5 to 1.0 cm. Apex: Acute. Base: Flat to Slightly rounded.            Margin: Entire. Texture: Lower surface is tomentose; Upper            surface is glabrous. Color Upper Surface: Yellow Green (RHS            145B). Color Lower Surface: Green (RHS 137C); Red Purple            (RHS 59A) along venation.        -   Peduncle.—None.        -   Pedicel.—Length: 50 to 60 cm. Diameter: 0.9 to 1.4 cm.            Color: Yellow Green (RHS 144A). Orientation: Upright,            straight, rigid. Pubescence: Slightly tomentose.        -   Fragrance.—None.        -   Peduncle.—None.-   Reproductive organs: Androecium: Stamens: Almost completely    transformed as petals. Gynoecium: The pistils are numerous, short,    locked together at the center of the corolla in a Yellow Green (RHS    144B) and Purple (RHS N77A), dome-shaped apocarpous gynoecium.-   Other characteristics:    -   -   Seeds and fruits.—Seeds and fruit production not observed.        -   Disease/pest resistance.—Neither resistance nor            susceptibility to normal diseases and pests of Ranunculus            has been observed.        -   Temperature tolerance.—Upper and lower temperature tolerance            not observed, plants have been grown in a climate controlled            greenhouse. Ranunculus asiaticus typically tolerates            temperatures within USDA Zones 7 to 11.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Ranunculus plantnamed ‘ABOGMA’ as herein illustrated and described.